Moistening device for labels, stamps, and the like



E. E. GAUNT March 7, 1950 MOISTENING DEVICE FOR LABELS, STAMPS, AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 10, 1947 25 INVENTOR.

2mm 5: nt BY ZZ ///5 4t tar/2%.

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 MOISTENING DEVICE FOR LABELS, STAMPS, AND THE LIKE Edward E. Gaunt, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Market Services, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 10, 1947, Serial No. 721,173

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in moistening device for labels, stamps and the like, and, more particularly, to a device having means for transferring fluid to the adhesive or gum bearing portions of envelopes, labels, postage stamps, boxes and many other articles of commerce employing an adhesive as a connecting means.

Among the several objects of this invention is to provide a moistening device for the purposes more fully hereinafter set forth, which is portable in character and which provides an exposed portion of a moisture carrying element over which the material to be moistened may be readily and conveniently wiped.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a moistening device which may be conveniently handled and which comprises a fluid reservoir communicating with an absorbing element in the form of a cloth jacket-covered sponge with portions of this moistening element exposed for wiping contact with the material to be moistened.

An ancillary object to the foregoing is the provision of a moistening device in which the moistening element may be readily and conveniently removed for cleansing purposes and which moistening element, by virtue of its direct contact with a liquid supply chamber, is at all times maintained, by capillary action, substantially moistened, thereby preventing the element from becoming dry and hard.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail View taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The several objects of my invention are accomplished by the preferred form of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and in which there is illustrated a moistening device I comprising a box-like bottom portion I! having side walls 12, end walls I3, and bottom wall I4.

The longitudinal upper edge portions I5 of the side walls I2 taper with respect to the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, to support, at an inclination with respect to the bottom wall I4,

2 an upper or cover portion I6, including side walls IT.

This cover I6 is hingedly secured to the side walls I2, adjacent the upper corner portions thereof, by means of pintle screws I8.

Arranged in the bottom portion I I and occupying a substantial portion thereof, is a moistening member I9, preferably in the form of a sponge arranged within a cloth jacket 20 of finely woven construction. The jacket-covered sponge I9 is adapted to transfer the moisture by capillary action to the top portion thereof and through the jacket 28.

That portion of the bottom portion i I unoccupied by the moistening member I9 is adapted to have confined therein the fluid to be absorbed by the moistening member 59. I

The cover I6 has its top wall and side walls I! terminating short of the adjacent end wall of the Walls I3, so that an opening 2! is provided for the exposure of the moistening element I9, it being noted that a portion of the cover I6 overlies the adjacent portion of the moistening member I9, whereby to prevent displacement of the moistening member I9 from the bottom wall II.

To complete the invention, I preferably provide a guide finger 22 which extends transversely of the opening 2| above the moistening element I9. This finger 22 is concave in cross section as at 23 and its end portion 24 is slightly turned upwardly to provide an upwardly extending lip, the finger 22 being thus concaved to prevent the same from catching upon edges or perforations of the material being moistened and to assure smooth passage of said material over the moistening member beneath the finger 22. The moistening device may be employed without the use of the finger 22 but when the finger 22 is employed it is preferably detachably connected to the adjacent wall I2 by means of a slot and pin connection 25, and there may be a sufficient frictional connection between the finger 22 and the wall I2 to hold the finger 22 in an adjusted position with respect to the top surface of the moistening member I9.

When using the moistening device, constructed in accordance with the foregoing description, for moistening the sealing flaps 25 of an envelope 21, one or more of such envelopes may rest upon the inclined top wall of the cover 16 and the envelopes successively slid from the stack to move the gummed portion of the flap 26 over the exposed portion of the moistening device I9 as the flap 26 passes between the moistening device I9 and the finger 22. In this same manner, stamps,

3 labels, or other such articles may likewise be rapidly moistened.

By the provision of the liquid reservoir, the moistening element I9 is maintained in a moistened condition, thereby preventing the same from becoming hardened or dried up. The device, when constructed in accordance with the foregoing description, is substantially portable, thereby affording convenient movement about for use upon the desk, counter, or other convenient place. It comprises relatively few parts, thereby affording economical manufacture. It may be formed of such material as will best serve the purpose and it is intended that the bottom portion I l and cover 16, as well as the finger 22, be formed of non-corrosive and of rust-proof material.

Whenever the cloth jacket 20 becomes saturated with glue or other adhesive material, it may be removed from the sponge l9 and washed, or a new jacket placed on the sponge 19.

My device has many uses and may be used in the home as well as the office.

By inclining the top wall of the cover 16 toward the moistening element-carrying portion of the bottom portion II, the feeding of the envelopes, labels, or other material to the moistening device 19 is greatly facilitated.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A moistening device comprising a box-like bottom portion having side walls providing top edges inclined downwardly in the direction of their length, a cover hingedly secured to and supported by said side walls at an inclination with respect to the bottom wall of said bottom portion, and having an end portion terminating short of the adjacent end portion of the bottom portion to provide an opening extending transversely of the cover, and a moistening eiement arranged in the bottom portion at one end thereof with a portion thereof exposed through said opening and with the remaining portion thereof disposed beneath said cover, said element being retained by said cover in said bottom portion with said portion of said moistening element exposed through said opening, the unoccupied portion of said bottom portion providing a fluid reservoir for said moistening element, said cover extending downwardly toward said moistening element.

EDWARD E. GAUN'I'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 703,771 Duncan July 1, 1902 1,705,609 Fletcher Mar. 19, 1929 1,789,763 Major Jan. 30, 1931 2,085,862 Lee July 6, 1937 2,271,801 Morrison et a1 Feb. 3, 1942 2,348,067 Hoitt May 2, 1944 

